Season of the Witch
Director: Dominic Sena
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Robert Sheehan, Stephen Graham
Details: US/15A 94mins
Cage and Ron Perlman are two knights who have been kicking vast amounts of ass in the name of the Lord during the 14th Century. But during one such scuffle, the lads kill a bunch of innocents, promptly throw down their swords and tell God to get lost. Alas, that means that they're branded deserters, and are subsequently captured by holy sorts, who demand that they take a young woman they believe to be a witch (and responsible for a horrible plague) to be tried in a town a perilous six days away. And by 'trial', they mean 'hanging, drowning and the subsequent saving of her soul' - if she doesn't wear a pointy hat in her spare time, of course.
There is so much wrong with Dominic Sena's film that it's difficult to know where to start. Firstly, the Swordfish and Gone in 60 Seconds director stages a couple of battle scenes early on that make a sale in Penney's look like a bigger budgeted sequel to 300; they lack anything resembling scope or passable action, with strange, awkwardly inserted quips to reinforce Cage and Perlman's bad-assery.
There's also supposed to be a gothic, horror-esque vibe to proceedings, but there's nothing scary about Season of the Witch. Sena may not have had the budget to really throw decent clams at the CGI, but some of it is embarrassingly bad. The acting, for the most part, falls in line with the general shiteness of everything else - which is a shame, given that it could have been the big screen break of Irish Misfits star Robert Sheehan. You can hardly blame the actors, though, when the script is this muck.
An atrocious film; paying to see this is cinematic self-flagellation.
Review by Mike Sheridan
Your Comments
muchacho
White was just anaverage film-Cage has turned into just an average .actor
Posted 29/11/2010 00:08:01
Sean65
Haven't seen it yet...but a shame if it's as bad as you say. I had my fingers crossed That this was indeed Robbie Sheehan's Hollywood break! You don't "really" say how he faired.
Posted 08/01/2011 00:37:56
sb
I think Mike Sheridan was WAY too critical of this movie. Saw it last night (nearly skipped it because of his review), and my family and I thought it was fine entertainment, the story had some intersting twists (that can not be told) - and though this probably won't be the performance Cage goes down in history for, he did a fair job, and most of the supporting actors were very good. I did not notice any "embarrassing" CGI (and I am a GC Artist), and actually thought the sets were quite impressive and convincing. Some wincing violence, seat clenching action and humorous dialog - pretty typical for most Cage films. No unnessecary gore, which is a plus in my book. It's not Lord of the Rings, but this film is surely worth a night out at the movies - it's a shame thousands might skip it because of one overly critical reviewer.
Posted 09/01/2011 17:14:37
Critic Steve
I think Mike has been a bit harsh here. i engaged in a bit of reverse psychology with the Mrs last night - claiming i wanted to go see Love & Other Drugs because she says i always pick and i always pick "boy movies". she ended up changing it to Season of the Witch, which was my first choice anyway. sorted! Anyway, i was very nervous about how it would turn out because of this review - and i have to say i'm a little bit surprised. Granted, the dialogue is poor in parts and they build up a bit too much to the one liners, but as a movie it was highly enjoyable. Decent fight scenes, funny on-liners, banterish bromance... not to mention a freakishly (and dare i say it sexily) amusing performance from Claire Foy. My other half slated me for taking her to Skyline and i was desperate to be able to say we were even after this, but i can happily say that i still owe her one.
Posted 10/01/2011 14:22:02
Critic Steve
on another note... there was a particular point when my girlfriends exactwords were "you better cuddle me tonight after this", so the comment about there being nothing scary about it is a little bit "man points" of you. It wont scare everyone but as a religion based subtle horror it will scare enough.
Posted 10/01/2011 14:24:48
Jimmy
I went to see it for action and special effects, & fantasy which it had, & some surprising scenes [where the dead moved]. I didn't go for the acting, so I wasn't disappointed. It even followed historical data, which I wasn't expecting either, like the a scene where the historical "bruised & bleeding" where beating themselves with whips [they got authority over the church during the black plague, where the people would listen them in churches instead of the priests]. The crusades killing etc... I know that the devil can't raise anyone from the dead [even though I have a Christian friend who does], but it's just for entertainment. The Catholic church looses it's authority, & a boy has to read the exorcism, to cast out the demon. I also know it's not a book that excises satan, but the spoken word of Faith, but it's just a movie! In reality we have cast out demons before, my one friend has done exorcisms where you can see your breath in the room, it is quick & easy if you Know Jesus, but it's a movie & Hollywood, so I understand they have to make exorcism look difficult like the devil has power. Naturally no one is accountable the devil made the girl do it, so she isn't responsible, just a reflection of present society. So, I liked it action, some special effects & fantasy; go & see it unless you are looking for an acting classic like "Lawrence of Arabia" It definitely not that!
Posted 12/01/2011 18:17:45
Elizabeth
I saw Season of the Witch today and it is awful. The script is quite cheesy at times and is also predictable. The village scenes look like a stage set rather than authentic 14th Century life. I was left unmoved and bored by the film when it ended and would advise to not waste your money on Season of the Witch.
Posted 13/01/2011 18:52:58
A
Not scary, just stupid...especially towards the end. Best thing about it was the eye candy - Robert Sheehan
Posted 19/01/2011 20:55:14
tlbruno
I basically think the other reviews cover the movie quite well, HOWEVER, I am a dreamer and I "made" the movie interesting and adventuresome in my own mind. It was somewhat laughable and mythical at the same time. Could have done better at the casting, but then they could have done a lot of things to make it a better movie.
Posted 20/01/2011 20:20:17
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Your Reviews...
Awful - A
There really was no redeeming feature in this film, other than the eye-candy provided by Robert Sheehan. The opening... MORE19/01/2011 21:12:45
